JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A man who was the lead trafficker in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy that brought drugs from Texas to Central and Northeast Florida has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison.
Amadeo Hernandez Jaimes, 39, of Mission, Texas, pleaded guilty to the indictment on Jan. 18, 2012, according to a release from the office of U.S. Attorney Robert E. O'Neill.
Forty-seven people participated in the conspiracy from 2008 to early 2010, bringing 600 kilograms of cocaine from Mission, Texas to Crescent City, Fla., according to the release. Forty-one others have been arrested and convicted.
According to court records, the drugs were shipped into Florida by hiding them in modified auto parts. Couriers received $1,000 to $2,500 per trip.
Jaimes began in 2008 by shipping 50 kilograms of cocaine to Satsuma and Deland. James Charles Jones and other conspirators then sold this to traffickers in Jacksonville and Putnam County, according to the release.
Jaimes continued doing this until April 2009, which is when Charles Jones then started keeping 15 kilograms of the 40 kilograms of cocaine while people working for Jaimes took the rest to other customers in Central Florida.
Additionally, at the same time, Jaimes was sending smaller amounts of cocaine to couriers Emily Joyce Townsend (sentenced to 46 months in prison) and Robert Jones (sentenced to 84 months in prison) in Palatka, according to the release.
Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized a total of $87,170 in cash and a total of 83 kilograms of cocaine from two East Palatka houses controlled by Charles Jones on April 17, 2009. Further investigation revealed Jaimes to be the source of the cocaine.
The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney A. Tysen Duva.
First Coast News